A Rugby star died from a suspected heart attack while allegedly beating up his girlfriend in an Italian hotel room, causing her to be rushed to hospital.
Jennie Platt, 44, a British real estate agent, was in a long-term relationship with Rick Bibey, and needed three operations after she was reportedly beaten up by him in £350-a-night four-star Hotel Continentale in Florence.
The incident took place in the early hours of Saturday, July 16 when Bibey, a 40-year-old man who weighed 17 stone and stood at 6ft 3in, allegedly attacked the mum-of-two, reports the Mirror.
Jennie, who had been with Bibey for three years according to pals, has only now returned home after being discharged from hospital.
But she is still in Italy and requires a medical flight to bring her back to the UK. A prosecutor investigating the attack had to wait more than a week to speak with her about the ordeal due to the extent of her injuries.
A family friend told the Mail Online that Jennie was devastated after the “shocking and violent” attack.
“She has been doing all she can to help the Italian authorities piece together what happened that night, speaking to them as a witness and as a victim of a domestic assault,” the friend said.
The continued to explain the Florence trip was supposed to be a health break at a spa, after Bibey had suffered mental health issues and a “serious downturn” in the last six months.
“He had been in and out of various centres, and this trip was to try and get him back on track - but it ended in tragedy.”
Bibey had been well liked and respected in the rugby league fraternity, the friend said, which would likely make it difficult for people to hear.
They said Jennie had suffered a number of serious injuries, including one to her eye socket which was “very worrying”.
She was currently in a wheelchair while she recovered from the assault and was discharged from hospital some days ago.
CCTV footage showed Jennie and Bibey, who played prop for the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats before his career was cut short by injury, returning to their hotel room in the early hours of July 16.
After Bibey turned professional in 2001, he had also made appearances for Wigan Warriors, Leigh Centurions and St Helens. He had played three times for England, before an Achilles problem led to the end of his career.
An autopsy showed Bibey had died from a heart attack. While toxicology results had yet to be confirmed, police said he had taken both alcohol and cocaine - which had combined to provoke his death.
Both Jennie and Bibey, who were from Manchester, worked as real estate agents. Jennie ran her own business - Jennie Platt Sales and Lettings - and had featured in a BBC documentary called Mantopia about the property business in the north west of England.
When it emerged she was marketing the luxury flat of Manchester United ace Phil Neville back in 2013 for £15,000, her name became high profile in real estate circles.
Jennie’s lawyer Stefano Goldstein said she had cooperated fully with authorities and they expected the case to be closed within the next few days.
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